Yesterday I spent the day with my nephew Josh. That may sound very odd because he died four years ago on September 19, 2012.
By Rebecca Nidey
Everything I Need To Know I Learned In A Haunted House
Yes, once again you are thinking I went off the deep end and those who know me already know that I am slightly crazy. But yesterday he was very present in my life and the life of those he cared for.
The year after Josh died, his sisters chose to remember him by starting a golf outing in his memory. It is a fundraiser and a day of memory that serves two purposes. Golf was one of the things that Josh enjoyed doing with people he cared for. It most probably wasn’t the actual game that meant that much, it was the fact he was with people he loved. Time spent with them is always precious. Throw in the mishaps that create laughter and it becomes priceless.
The fact that this outing also generates help for someone in need only illustrates more of the many endearing traits of Josh. He would literally give someone the shirt off his back if needed. As a volunteer fireman, he risked his life on many occasions by rushing into situations that most of us would run from. After the divorce of his mother and dad, he stepped in to become the support system for his Mom and two younger sisters. After the marriage of his mother, Jill, to my brother, he took on the role of friend and son to Randy and big brother to my nephew Nathan. Without him, life and the blending of two families would have been harder.
The annual golf outing was held yesterday with many people participating in the actual sport, somewhere between 68 to 80 people. There was an equal amount or more of others who attended just to show support and share memories. In the parking area I saw vehicles from as far away as Utah and Texas and know of one attendee from Wyoming. Since this event was held in Illinois, think of the distance that they had to come to attend. Not only did Josh impact people in his immediate area, he touched so many who live across the country.
Josh loved and played football. It was decided to give the proceeds from this year’s event to his home town football team, the Oblong, Illinois Panthers. The proceeds will help purchase special (and very expensive) helmets that protect against concussions. Even in death, my nephew has continued to protect and serve. Out of respect, the Oblong football team attended the event and shared a meal with others who were there. Many of these young men may not have known Josh, yet his presence has touched them. Hopefully, as they age, they will show much of the giving spirit that Josh embodied.
Offered at the event were raffle prizes to help with fundraising. Some were homemade, many were unique but all were given as an act of love for Josh. The way to win these prizes was to purchase raffle tickets and put them in the bucket for whichever prize you wished to win. Amidst much friendly rivalry over who would win what, the joy of being together was once again illustrated.
People took the time to make items, prepare gift baskets, and gather items that are beautiful and practical…. all in honor of a young man who embodied giving. Because Josh loved children, there were even prizes geared to the young ones. How better to show the appreciation for his life?
One aspect of this event that was the most telling was the gathering of friends and family. Because of time, distance, and funds we are often not able to travel to be with those we love. However, yesterday was one of those times when many made time, traveled far, and spent to help a cause. Because of Josh, we all made an effort in any way we could. Food was served with great love because you must feed the body in order to feed the soul. Children were hugged and rocked to sleep. Josh loved children and most especially his niece Macie and his nephew Josey. They are both young teens now and Josey is the spitting image of his Uncle Josh. His nephew Russell remembers him and I know he will share the memory of Uncle Josh with his younger brother Quinnen, who was too young to remember and his younger sister Linsten, who had not been born at the time of Josh’s death. Josh’s younger cousins are beginning to start their families and the impact that Josh had on them will continue as they raise their children. Family, whether by blood or of the heart, was very important to Josh.
As I spent time at the shelter that was the central gathering area, I had time to listen. Stories were told, memories shared, and new chapters of our lives were unfolded. Despite the fact that life seemed to stand still for a while after Josh passed, the river of our lives continued to flow. There were other life events; a few deaths, many births, new marriages, illnesses, celebrations and times of sadness. All of these things were spoken of but the feeling that arose from these discussions was this… life continues on.
After the prizes were drawn for and distributed, the “awards” for the golfing were given out. This was, of course, met with friendly heckling and laughter amidst the trash talk that accompanies sports. Josh loved laughter and had a wonderful laugh! As has come to be the tradition, balloons are distributed at the end of the festivities. Everyone present gets a balloon to release that will lift high in the air, a symbol of our love for Josh.
One blue balloon failed to lift into the air. Instead, it continued to stay close to the ground and settled on a truck in the parking lot. To some people, this might indicate that it was simply a malfunctioning balloon. Those of us who were there knew better. When Josh died, my brother who had become his Dad, acquired Josh’s beloved truck. That balloon stayed close to those who were present and settled on that truck. If it had lit anyplace else, we would have thought it coincidence. However, we understood it was just Josh’s way of letting us know he was still there, still watching over us, still loving and giving. Yesterday we spent the day with Josh.
We Love you Josh.
In honor of Josh Rodgers, also known as Roy by those he loved.
Image © Carrie Ikemire Osborne
About the Author:
Through her work on the investigative team for the Crawford County Illinois Ghost Hunters, Rebecca Nidey has an understanding of the paranormal, spiritual, and metaphysical worlds and how they work together.
Rebecca has trained in the Healing Touch technique (a form of energy healing). She is a certified Psychic Medium trained by Belle Salisbury, and she is a certified Paranormal Researcher.
Rebecca is the associate editor for Bellesprit Magazine and also writes a column titled Everything I Need To Know I Learned In A Haunted House. She has been a co-host of several radio programs for the Haunted Voices Radio Network and HeyZ Radio Network highlighting the Paranormal, metaphysical and literary fields.
To learn more about Rebecca or to schedule a reading you can contact her at https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.nidey.
